Kate Winslet has won an Oscar, three Golden Globes and many more awards for her incredible work in films such as "The Reader," "Titanic," "Sense and Sensibility" and most recently "Steve Jobs." But if she had listened to her shortsighted drama teacher in school, Winslet might have never found such success on screen.
Winslet mentioned the insensitive educator after winning the BAFTA award for her role as Joanna Huffman in "Steve Jobs" on Sunday night. She dedicated the award to all the young women struggling with insecurity to "keep believing" in themselves.
"When I was younger, when I was only 14, I was told by a drama teacher that I might do OK if I was happy to settle for the fat girl parts," the three-time BAFTA winner told reporters backstage and added, "Look at me now! Look at me now."
She then encouraged those young women to not listen to doubters and keep working hard at whatever they want to accomplish in life.
"So what I feel like saying in those moments is, to any young woman who has ever been put down by a teacher or a friend or even a parent, just don't listen to any of it," Winslet said. "Because that's what I did. I didn't listen, and I kept on going, and I overcame all of my fears, and I got over a lot of insecurity. And just keep doing it, and keep believing in yourself."
Winslet will vie for her second Oscar award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the 88th Annual Academy Awards in two weeks. She already picked up a Golden Globe for her "Steve Jobs" role.
The Oscars will air on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC.
Watch Winslet's BAFTA acceptance speech below.
